As the curtains comes down on 2016, we look back at some of the stories that made headlines. Retreat’s Dean Jacobs, 25, got the year started on a high note with Silvertree Baseball Club. The star pitcher earned himself a spot in the SA men’s squad which competed at the World Baseball Classic qualifiers in Australia. Also, Silvertree trio Riyaaz Forbes and twin teammates Riyaad and Ridaah Philips, were part of the WP under-12 team which won gold at the national championships. In fact, WP juniors and seniors made a clean sweep and took top honours at this year’s national champs.
On the track, Heathfield High School beat long time rivals Steenberg for the first time in 26 years, at the annual WP Southern Zone Section A schools athletics meeting, in Green Point. Mondale High claimed top spot, Heathfield followed in second, while Steenberg and South Peninsula shared third position. It was also a good year for the hot-stepping Stephanian Ottery under-19 side as they once again featured in the Premier Cup after a 20-year hiatus; and their Super League side clinched the Knockout Cup after beating Salt River Blackpool 3-0 in the final.
Meanwhile, Grassy Park’s Shaheen Abrahams, 17 – grandson of former pro goalkeeper Farouk Abrahams – had a successful trial with Mamelodi Sundowns and will join the Brazilians in the first week of 2017. Another goalkeeping great, Adeeb Abrahams, was made president of Battswood FC with the aim of reigniting the old flame of success the club once boasted.
In the water, Thaakir Sulayman and teammates Kaamil Adams, Pier du Plessis, Brandon Jaftha and Alex Mulder from the Grassy Park Rowing Club won gold at the South African Rowing Championships.
While on the pitch, Glendene United claimed their maiden Safa Cape Town under-18 Coke Cup title and Greenwood Athletic’s men of steel Lionel Miller and Nadeem Fredericks guided the Super League and under-18 teams to the league title, respectively. Miller’s Super League side also gained promotion to the third division. Camps Bay FC claimed the 26th edition of the Wynberg St John’s under-10 tournament, and Milano United’s juniors made a clean sweep in their debut season at the Mitchell’s Plain Local Football Association (LFA).And Retreat’s Tashreeq Martin and Chadwin Johnson from 12 Shooters Pool Club will be among those who will usher us into the new year after the duo earned spots on the SA under-18 team which will compete at the World Eight Ball Pool Championships in England, next year.
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